Removable liner for purses or the like



R. J. DAVIS June 24, 1969 REMOVABLE LINER FOR PURSES OR THE LIKE Sheet Filed March 14, 1968 ATTUR'A E VJ June 24, 1969 R J, DAv|$ 3,451,454

REMOVABLE LINER FOR PURSES OR THE LIKE Filed March 14, 1968 Sheet 2 of 2 .N; V 33 f7? 5 I 2:132

ATTOF/VE VJ United States Patent US. Cl. 150-29 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A removable liner for purses or the like comprising a frame including a pair of parallel, elongate side rods, and a pair of U shaped members each having its ends pivotally connected to adjacent end portions of the rods. When the sides of each member extend downwardly from the rods, they may be swung relatively to the base of such members for moving the rods between positions toward and away from one another. A lining for the frame includes side and end walls, a bottom wall, and opening from the top. Each side wall has a flap which folds over an adjacent rod of the frame and releasably attaches to the outside of this side wall. The end walls of the lining are on the outside of the U shaped members of the frame to confine the frame against substantial endwise movement.

This invention relates to improvements in removable liners for purses or the like.

A good deal of time and effort is required in individually transferring each of the many loose articles usually found in a womans purse to another purse. On the other hand, if the entire contents are merely dumped from one purse into another, the articles may be damaged in some way or, in the case of cosmetics, caused to open and spill their contents.

An object of this invention is to provide a liner for containing such articles which enables them to be moved from purse to purse without individual handling or danger of damage; and, more particularly, to provide such a liner which requires no special parts for attachment to the purse.

Another object is to provide such a liner which fits many different sizes and shapes of purses.

A further object is to provide such a liner having a lining which is reinforced in such a manner that it will occupy substantially all of the interior of the purse.

Still another object is to provide such a liner in which the lining is easily and quickly installed on and removed from the frame so that the lining may be washed. repaired or replaced.

Yet a further object is to provide a liner having a lining and frame of this type which can be made very compact for storage or mailing purposes.

These and other objects are accomplished, in accord ance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, by a removable liner which induces a lining for disposal within the purse or the like and comprising side and end walls and an opening in its top. A frame for reinforcing the lining includes a pair of generally parallel, elongate side rods and a pair of generally U shaped members each having its free ends connecting adjacent end portions of the rods to one another. The sides of each of the U shaped members are extendible downward- 1y from the rods and swingable relative to the base of such member to permit their free ends and thus the rods to be moved toward and away from one another.

Each side wall of the lining has a flap which folds over an adjacent rod of the frame and releasably attaches to the outside of its side wall, and the U shaped members of the frame are disposed on the inside of the end walls of the lining so as to fill them out. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is an inner wall across the 3,451,454 Patented June 24, 1969 inner side of each end wall to form a pocket to receive the adjacent U shaped member, and a filap on each inner wall folds over the upper edge of the adjacent end wall and releasably attaches to the outside thereof.

Each of the U shaped members is preferably pivotally connected to adjacent end portions of the rod so that it may be swung between a downwardly extending position substantially perpendicular to the rods and a position substantially aligned with the rods. The lining is of a flexible material which, with the frame removed, can be folded flat so that when the U shaped members are so aligned with the rods, the lining and frame form a compact package substantially flat for packing, storing or mailing. On the other hand, the U shaped members may be swung downwardly between positions perpendicular to the rods, so as to reinforce a lining of maximum depth, and intermediate positions to reinforce linings of less than maximum depth.

More particularly, in its preferred form, each U shaped member is resilient and unstressed when its free ends and thus the side rods of the frame are spaced a substantial distance apart. In this manner, the side walls of the lining are normally spaced a corresponding distance apart to permit easy access into and out of the open top of the lining when the purse is open. On the other hand, the

resilient nature of the U shaped members urges their free ends and thus the side walls of the lining outwardly against the sides of the purse when it is closed so as to fill out the inside of the purse.

It is also preferred that each of the rods be made up of longitudinally telescoping parts which enable them to be adjusted in length so as to reinforce linings of different lengths. More particularly, the telescoping parts forming each rod are urged resiliently outwardly to extended positions in which the rods are longer than the spacing between the end walls of the lining. Thus, when the U shaped members are disposed within the end walls of the lining, the U shaped members connected to the rods are urged outwardly to fill out the end walls of the lining.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are designated by like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liner constructed in accordance with the present invention and disposed within a closed purse, which is shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the liner and purse of FIG. 1, with the liner removed from the open purse and the frame removed from the lining;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame with the U shaped members rnoved into alignment with the rods;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the frame, partly in section, and showing in broken lines the lining in which the frame is disposed;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one of the rods of the frame, as seen along broken line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is another elevational view of the frame, similarly to FIG. 4, but with the rods shortened and the U shaped members swung to intermediate positions for fitting within a shorter and shallower lining.

With reference now to the details of the above described drawings, the liner, which is indicated in its entirety by reference character 10, is adapted to be disposed within a purse or the like, which may assume a variety of different sizes and shapes. The particular purse 11 illustrated by broken lines is of more or less conventional shape in that it has a relatively wide bottom 12 and side walls 13 which taper upwardly and inwardly when the purse is shut by means of snap-type fasteners 15a and 15b mounted on the upper edges of the side walls. More particularly, the fasteners are secured to rigid U shaped rims 14 which extend along the upper edges of the side walls and then along the upper edges of pleated walls 17 at each end of the purse. As well known in the art, the rims are pivotally connected at their free ends midway of the side walls so as to permit the purse to be opened and shut, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 1, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liner substantially fills the inside of the purse 11 so as to provide substantially the same space as the purse itself for various articles which are ordinarily carried in the purse. In this respect, it will be understood that the liner 10 is actually disposed within an existing liner which is conventionally secured to the inside of the purse, so that, upon removal of the liner 10 for any purpose, the purse 11 can be used in the usual manner. Furthermore, the liner is disposable within and removable from the purse 11 without the necessity of attaching it or detaching it with respect thereto. Thus, when it is desired to remove the articles from one purse and place them in another, it is merely necessary to open the purse in which the liner is disposed, lift the liner out through the open top of the purse, and lower it through the open top of the other purse to be used.

As previously described, and as best shown in FIG. 2, the liner 10 includes a lining of flexible material and a frame 21 for reinforcing and expanding the lining into a shape in which it will substantially fill the inside of the purse, as shown in FIG. 1. Also, of course, this reinforcement enables the lining to hold its shape as it is moved from one purse to another. The lining may be made of any suitable material, although it is preferably of a material which is washable, waterproof, and non-shrinkable. In any case, and as best shown in FIG. 2, the lining includes opposite side and end walls 22 and 23, respectively, a bottom wall 24, and an opening in the top which permits access to the interior of the lining when the upper edges of the side Walls are moved apart. Thus, in effect, the walls of the lining duplicate those of the purse on a smaller scale.

The frame 21 comprises a pair of generally parallel, elongate side rods and a pair of generally U shaped members 26, each such member having its free ends pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the rods by means of pins 27. As previously described, this pivotal connection of the U shaped members to the ends of the rods enables the members to be swung between positions aligned with the rods, as shown in FIG. 3, and positions extending downwardly from the rods, as shown at the top of FIG. 2 as well as in FIGS. 4 and 6. With the U shaped members disposed in the first of these positions, the frame is substantially flat so that it is especially adapted for storage or mailing purposes. Also, of course, since the lining 20 is of flexible material, it too may be folded flat so that, during storage or in mailing, it may be laid against the flat frame 21.

When the U shaped members are swung to positions perpendicular to the rods 25, as shown at the top of FIG. 2 and in FIG. 4, the frame is adapted to reinforce a lining of maximum depth. On the other hand, in the event the purse in which the liner is to be disposed is relatively shallow, the U shaped members 26 may be swung inwardly to positions intermediate their positions aligned with the rods and their perpendicular positions. As illustrated in FIG. 6, this permits the frame to be fitted within a lining 20a which has a depth considerably less than the lining shown in FIG. 4.

Each U shaped member 26 is also formed of a resilient material, such as a strip of thin gage metal bent into the desired shape. In this manner, the sides 26a of the U shaped member are swingable about their intersections with the base 26b to move the free ends of such members toward and away from one another. When unstressed, the sides 26a flair outwardly with respect to the base so that they may be swung into positions aligned with the rods 25, as shown in FIG. 3. In the unstressed positions of the U shaped members 26, their free ends and thus the rods 21 connected thereto are spaced apart a substantial distance, and more particularly, a distance corresponding 4 substantially to the spacing between the upper ends of the side walls 22 of the lining 20. Thus, the frame permits the lining to be fully opened.

With the frame and lining assembled, as will be described, the side rods 25 may be moved inwardly against the outwardly urging sides 26a of the frame so as to permit movement of the lining into or out of the purse. Also, of course, with the lining disposed in the purse, the side walls 13 thereof are adapted to force the side walls of the lining 20 and thus the rods 25 toward one another as the purse is shut. Then, upon opening the purse to the position shown in FIG. 2, the outward urging of the sides of the U shaped members 26 will automatically move their free ends and thus the rods 25 and side walls 22 of the lining 20 outwardly against the side walls of the purse to open the top of the lining for access.

As can be seen from the drawings, the sides 26a of the U shaped members intersect the base 26b thereof at a relatively sharp corner, and the base is bowed upwardly. This not only provides greater resistance to inward urging of the sides of the members, but also provides the frame with greater flexibility. That is, bowing of the base 26a permits it to be squeezed inwardly so as to lessen the effective side to side dimension of the U shaped member.

As previously described, each of the rods 25 is made up of longitudinally telescoping parts which enable its length to be adjusted, and such parts are urged resiliently outwardly toward fully extended positions so that the rods and thus the frames are normally of maximum length. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, and as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the end walls 23 of the linings 20 and 20a are spaced apart a distance less than the extended lengths of the rods 25 and thus the spacing between the U shaped members 26 connected to the ends of the rods. In this way, the U shaped members are continually urged outwardly against the end Walls 23 of the lining.

Upon assembly of the lining 20 and the frame 21, the U shaped members 26 are disposed on the insides of the end walls 23 and the rods 25 are disposed on the outside of the side walls 22. Flaps 22a on the upper end of each of the side walls 22 are then folded along the lines indicated by broken lines over the rods 25 and releasably attached to the outside of the side walls by any suitable means 28, which may comprise pressure sensitive adhesive parts on each of the flap and outside of the end walls.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is an inner wall 29 adjacent each end wall 23 of the lining 20 to form a pocket for receiving the U shaped frame member 26. Also, there is a flap 29a at the upper edge of each inner wall which is folded along the broken lines shown in FIG. 2 for releasably attaching to the outside of the adjacent end wall 23 by means 30 similar to the attaching means 28.

As shown in the drawings, the telescoping parts making up each of the rods 25 comprise a sleeve 31 having a stem or extension 32 slidable in each end thereof. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a compression spring 33 is carried within the sleeve 31 and engages at its opposite ends with the inner ends of each of the stems 32 for urging the stems outwardly to their fully extended positions. This outward extension of the stems 32 is limited by shoulders 34 formed on the inside of the sleeve 31. As indicated in FIG. 5, the cylinder may be made up of split halves joined to one another along horizontal mating surfaces. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the stems 32 and sleeve 31 have siidably engaged parts of square cross-section to prevent their relative rotation about a longitudinal axis. In this manner, there is little or no chance for the U shaped members to move out of alignment with one another due to twisting of any portion of a rod relative to another.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A removable liner for purses or the like, comprising a frame including a pair of generally parallel, elongate side rods, a pair of generally U shaped members each having its free ends connecting adjacent end portions of the rods to one another, the sides of each such member extending downwardly from the rods and swingable relative to the base of said member to permit said rods to be moved between positions toward and away from one another, and a lining for the frame including side and end walls and an opening from the top, each side wall having a flap folded over an adjacent rod of the frame and releasably attached to the outside of said side wall, and said end walls being on the outside of the U shaped members of the frame to confine the frame against substantial endwise movement.

2. A liner of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said lining also includes an inner wall across the inner side of each end wall to form a pocket in which the adjacent U shaped member is received.

3. A liner of the character defined in claim 2, wherein each inner wall has a flap folded over the upper edge of its adjacent end wall and releasably attached to the outside of said end wall.

4. A removable liner for a purse or the like, comprising a frame including a pair of generally parallel, elongate side rods, a pair of generally U shaped members each having its free ends pivotally connected to adjacent end portions of the rods to permit it to be swung between a position extending substantially perpendicularly to the rods and a position substantially aligned with the rods as well as intermediate positions, the sides of each said member being swingable with respect to the base thereof so that, when said sides are positioned out of alignment with the rods, the free ends of the members and thus the rods to which they are connected may be moved from positions widely spaced apart to positions close to one another, and a flexible lining for the frame including side walls having upper edges spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the wide spacing between the rods to permit them to be releasably secured to the rods, end walls disposable on the outer sides of the U shaped members, and an opening from the top to permit articles to be passed into and taken from the lining when the rods of the frame are moved to said widely spaced apart positions.

5. A removable liner for a purse or the like, comprising a frame including a pair of generally parallel, elongate side rods each having means for adjusting its length, a pair of generally U shaped members each hav ing its free ends connecting adjacent end portions of the rods to one another, the sides of each such member being extendible downwardly from the rods and swingable relative to the base of said member, when so extended, to

permit said rods to be moved toward and away from one another, and a flexible lining for the frame including side walls, end walls spaced apart a distance less the U shaped members of the frame when the slde rods are fully extended, and an opening from the top to permit articles to be passed into and taken from the lining when the rods are away from one another.

6. A liner of the character defined in claim 5, wherein each side wall of the lining has means for releasably securing it to an adjacent rod.

7. A frame for the lining of a removable liner for a purse or the like, comprising a pair of generally parallel, elongate side rods, and a pair of generally U shaped members each having its free ends pivotally connected to adjacent end portions of the rod to permit it to be swung between a position extending substantially perpendicularly to the rods and a position substantially aligned with the rods, each U shaped member being resilient and unstressed when its free ends are spaced a substantial distance apart so that such ends and thus the rods to which they are connected may be moved toward engagement with one another and then released for return to the position in which they are spaced a substantial distance apart.

8. A frame for the lining of a removable liner for a purse or the like, comprising a pair of generally elongate side rods, each rod comprising longitudinally telescoping parts and means resiliently urging said parts to extended positions, and a pair of generally U shaped members each having its free ends connecting adjacent. telescoping parts at the end portions of the rods to one another, the sides of each such member being extendible downwardly from the rods and swingable relative to the base of said member, when so extended, to permit said rods to be moved toward and away from one another.

9. A frame of the character defined in claim 8, wherein the free ends of each of the U shaped members are pivotally connected to said telescoping parts so that it may be swung between positions extending substantially perpendicularly to the rods and substantially aligned with the rods.

10. A frame of the character defined in claim 9, wherein each U shaped member is resilient and unstressed when its free ends are spaced a substantial distance apart.

11. A frame of the character defined in claim 8, wherein each U shaped member is resilient and unstressed when its free ends are spaced a substantial distance apart.

12. A frame of the character defined in claim 8, wherein the telescoping parts include means preventing their relative rotation about their longitudinal axes.

13. A frame of the character defined in claim 12, wherein said telescoping parts of each rod include a sleeve, a stem slidable in each end of the sleeve and connected to a free end of a U shaped member, and a spring within the sleeve and between the stems to urge them apart.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,487 10/ 1906 Schmitter -29 2,653,640 9/1953 Browning 150-28 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,117,240 2/ 1956 France. 1,137,032 1/ 1957 France.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 150 -28 

